Chamber seeks nominees for ATHENA, business awards

Published: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 9:51 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 9:51 a.m.

We are already halfway through February and, according to Punxsutawney Phil, spring 2013 is just around the corner.

With spring comes the annual Small Business Week, which will be celebrated May 20 through May 24. There are opportunities during the week to present two awards — the Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards presented by TD Bank, and the sixth annual ATHENA Award given in memory of Vanessa Y. Mintz and presented by Morris Broadband and Judy Stroud/State Farm Insurance.

The Chamber is currently accepting applications for both awards.

The Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards are presented to Henderson County Chamber of Commerce member businesses that have experienced business success in 2012 and have helped grow our local economy.

Through quality management, inventiveness, old-fashioned hard work and courage, they have managed to grow their business during tough economic times.

The awards are used to recognize these companies for employment growth, revenue growth and/or a combination of the two.

Deadline for nominations is April 12, and a nomination form can be found on the Chamber’s website, www.hendersoncountychamber. org. Recipients will be recognized during Small Business week at a reception co-sponsored by the Southern Appalachian Craft Brewery on May 20.

Attorney Joe Guy is volunteer chairman of the BRBGA program.

He says that his committee looks forward to recognizing the businesses in our area that have been innovative and determined to succeed. Joe adds that these companies are leading the way toward sustained economic recovery, and it is an honor to acknowledge their accomplishments.

This is the third year for the BRBGA, and it is possible that we may have some three-peat winners.

Nominations are now being accepted for the ATHENA Leadership Award, which also will be presented during Small Business Week in May at the Professional Women’s Luncheon.

The award winner will be an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Founded nearly 30 years ago, ATHENA International is a women’s leadership organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders through the programs it administers.

Vanessa Y. Mintz brought the ATHENA award to Henderson County in 2008, and she embodied the values underlying ATHENA International’s philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government.

The program is facilitated locally by the Henderson County Chamber, a licensed ATHENA host organization. Nominations are sought throughout the community, and recipients are selected by a diverse group of community leaders based on the criteria above.

Past Henderson County ATHENA recipients include: Myra Grant, Pardee Hospital Foundation (2012); Joyce Mason, Four Seasons Compassion for Life (2011); Pat Shepherd with Pat’s School of Dance (2010); Ragan Ward with Carolina First (2009); and Robin Reed with Bares It All (2008). Nominations will be accepted until April 12 and forms may be obtained by contacting the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce at 828-692-1413 or at www.hendersoncountychamber. org.

The Chamber strives to be a community resource, an information source and link for our area. For more information on what the Chamber can do for you and your business, stop by our office at 204 Kanuga Road or give us a call at 828-692-1413.

<p>We are already halfway through February and, according to Punxsutawney Phil, spring 2013 is just around the corner.</p><p>With spring comes the annual Small Business Week, which will be celebrated May 20 through May 24. There are opportunities during the week to present two awards — the Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards presented by TD Bank, and the sixth annual ATHENA Award given in memory of Vanessa Y. Mintz and presented by Morris Broadband and Judy Stroud/State Farm Insurance.</p><p>The Chamber is currently accepting applications for both awards.</p><p>The Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards are presented to Henderson County Chamber of Commerce member businesses that have experienced business success in 2012 and have helped grow our local economy.</p><p>Through quality management, inventiveness, old-fashioned hard work and courage, they have managed to grow their business during tough economic times.</p><p>The awards are used to recognize these companies for employment growth, revenue growth and/or a combination of the two.</p><p>Deadline for nominations is April 12, and a nomination form can be found on the Chamber's website, www.hendersoncountychamber. org. Recipients will be recognized during Small Business week at a reception co-sponsored by the Southern Appalachian Craft Brewery on May 20.</p><p>Attorney Joe Guy is volunteer chairman of the BRBGA program.</p><p>He says that his committee looks forward to recognizing the businesses in our area that have been innovative and determined to succeed. Joe adds that these companies are leading the way toward sustained economic recovery, and it is an honor to acknowledge their accomplishments.</p><p>This is the third year for the BRBGA, and it is possible that we may have some three-peat winners.</p><p>The Chamber, Morris Broadband and Judy Stroud/State Farm Insurance present the sixth annual ATHENA Leadership Award in Henderson County in memory of Vanessa Y. Mintz.</p><p>Nominations are now being accepted for the ATHENA Leadership Award, which also will be presented during Small Business Week in May at the Professional Women's Luncheon.</p><p>The award winner will be an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.</p><p>Founded nearly 30 years ago, ATHENA International is a women's leadership organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders through the programs it administers.</p><p>Vanessa Y. Mintz brought the ATHENA award to Henderson County in 2008, and she embodied the values underlying ATHENA International's philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government.</p><p>The program is facilitated locally by the Henderson County Chamber, a licensed ATHENA host organization. Nominations are sought throughout the community, and recipients are selected by a diverse group of community leaders based on the criteria above.</p><p>Past Henderson County ATHENA recipients include: Myra Grant, Pardee Hospital Foundation (2012); Joyce Mason, Four Seasons Compassion for Life (2011); Pat Shepherd with Pat's School of Dance (2010); Ragan Ward with Carolina First (2009); and Robin Reed with Bares It All (2008). Nominations will be accepted until April 12 and forms may be obtained by contacting the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce at 828-692-1413 or at www.hendersoncountychamber. org.</p><p>The Chamber strives to be a community resource, an information source and link for our area. For more information on what the Chamber can do for you and your business, stop by our office at 204 Kanuga Road or give us a call at 828-692-1413.</p>